“No—!!!” Han Feng’s terrified shriek came from inside the ventilation duct! He had just crawled in when he felt a terrifying pressure and a deadly stench assault him from behind!
“Gray Claw! Get out!” Ling Chen yelled “anxiously”!
At the same time, Mud Swamp Domain fully erupted, attempting to slow down the terrifying Bloodfang Wolf Spider!
But it was too late!
The Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s massive mouthparts, like lightning, bit fiercely towards the ventilation duct entrance!
Crack—!!!
The sturdy alloy duct was torn apart like paper!
Han Feng, in his Shadow Leopard form, only managed to let out a tragic scream before being firmly bitten by the huge mouthparts and dragged out!
“Pfft—!!!”
Blood sprayed wildly!
Han Feng’s body was bitten in half at the waist!
His lower body was instantly swallowed by the Bloodfang Wolf Spider, chewed, emitting a spine-chilling sound of bones shattering!
His upper body was flung away, slamming heavily against the rock wall, staining the wall with blood!
“Han Feng—!!!” Shi Lei’s eyes were splitting with rage from the rear!
Seeing his comrade die so tragically, he completely lost control!
“Beast! I’ll tear you apart!!!”
“Gray Rock! Don’t be reckless!” Ling Chen “sternly” stopped him!
But Shi Lei had already been blinded by anger!
He violently knocked away several Rock Armor Scorpions blocking his path, rushing madly towards the Bloodfang Wolf Spider like an out-of-control locomotive!
“Giant Bear’s Strength! Brute Force Charge!!!”
Boom—!!!
Shi Lei’s massive body slammed heavily into the Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s flank, emitting a dull thud!
The enormous impact made the Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s huge body sway slightly!
But its thick carapace only dented a small bit, without even a crack!
“Roar—!!!” The Bloodfang Wolf Spider was enraged!
It suddenly turned its head, its crimson compound eyes fixed on Shi Lei!
Its huge mouthparts opened, and a stream of highly corrosive dark green venom, like a high-pressure water cannon, shot towards Shi Lei!
“Gray Rock! Dodge quickly!” Su Qing shrieked!
A Wind Barrier instantly condensed in front of Shi Lei!
Hiss, hiss, hiss—!!!
The venom slammed into the Wind Barrier, emitting a fierce corrosive sound!
The tough wind wall was instantly corroded, forming a large hole!
The remaining venom splashed onto Shi Lei’s rock skin!
“Ah—!!!” Shi Lei let out a painful roar!
His rock skin actually sizzled and smoked as the venom corroded it!
The intense pain made him momentarily freeze!
Just then, the Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s segmented long leg, like a steel whip, whipped towards Shi Lei with a piercing shriek that tore through the air!
Bang—!!!
Like a heavy hammer striking a drum, Shi Lei’s massive body was fiercely flung away, slamming heavily against the distant rock wall!
The hard rock was dented into a deep pit, and broken stones tumbled down!
His rock skin cracked inch by inch, and blood seeped from the cracks!
His aura instantly weakened!
“Gray Shield! Group Shield! Flowing Wind! Suppress with full power! Gray Sniff! Yinmeng! Save him!” Ling Chen commanded “hoarsely”!
At the same time, Mud Swamp Domain was frantically activated, tightly entangling several of the Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s legs, attempting to buy time for the rescue!
Chen Mo gritted his teeth, expanding the range of the Group Shield to its maximum, barely fending off the Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s venom spray and the attacks of the surrounding Rock Armor Scorpions!
Su Qing’s face was pale, and wind blades poured down like a storm onto the Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s carapace, but they only left shallow white marks, completely unable to break through its defense!
Wang Yuan and Tang Yinmeng, risking danger, rushed towards the severely injured Shi Lei!
“Team Leader... I... I can’t make it...” Shi Lei lay in the pile of rubble, his breath weak!
He struggled to lift his head, looking at Ling Chen, his eyes filled with pain and unwillingness!
“Take care of... Old K Captain... and... the brothers... for me...”
“Hold on! Shi Lei!” Ling Chen cried out “grief-stricken”!
His figure flashed, and he rushed to Shi Lei’s side, trying to drag him out of the dangerous area!
But the Bloodfang Wolf Spider had already broken free from the Mud Swamp Domain’s restraint!
Its crimson compound eyes locked onto Ling Chen and Shi Lei!
Its huge mouthparts opened again, and deadly venom was poised to strike!
“Team Leader! Look out!” Su Qing exclaimed!
Just at this critical moment!
“Roar—!!!” A hint of determination flashed in Shi Lei’s eyes!
He used his last ounce of strength, violently pushing Ling Chen away!
At the same time, his massive body, like a cannonball, once again slammed into the Bloodfang Wolf Spider!
“Gray Rock! No—!!!” Ling Chen cried out “in despair”!
Boom—!!!
Shi Lei used the last strength of his life, slamming heavily into the relatively fragile joint beneath the Bloodfang Wolf Spider’s mouthparts!
Crack—!!!
A bone-chilling sound of bones shattering rang out!
Shi Lei’s body instantly twisted and deformed!
But he also successfully made the Bloodfang Wolf Spider stumble, causing the sprayed venom to deviate, hitting the rock wall next to them!
“Go quickly... Team Leader...” Shi Lei’s voice was so faint it was almost inaudible!
His massive body slowly slid down, completely losing all signs of life!
“No—!!!” Ling Chen let out a “grief-filled” roar of anger!
His eyes were filled with “bloodshot”!
He suddenly turned, Mud Swamp Domain erupting with full power, and at the same time roared into the communicator, “Retreat! Retreat immediately! Abandon the mission! Forget the energy core! Save your lives!”
The squad members had already been scared out of their wits by this sudden and terrifying turn of events!
Hearing the order, they immediately retreated frantically out of the mine shaft, under the cover of Chen Mo’s shield and Su Qing’s Wind Acceleration!
Ling Chen, meanwhile, “firmly” stared at the Bloodfang Wolf Spider, which was somewhat dazed by Shi Lei’s impact!
Mud Swamp Domain tightly entangled it, buying time for his teammates to retreat!
Only when he saw his team members disappear around the mine tunnel corner did he suddenly turn, taking Tang Yinmeng, and rushed towards the entrance like an arrow from a bow!
Behind them, the enraged roar of the Bloodfang Wolf Spider, the frantic hissing of the Rock Armor Scorpion swarm, and a chilling gnawing sound could be heard...
Outside the mine shaft, by the armored off-road vehicle!
The remaining members of Ashes Squad gathered, still shaken!
Su Qing’s face was pale, Chen Mo and Wang Yuan trembled all over, and Tang Yinmeng’s molten-gold eyes were filled with lingering fear!
Ling Chen was the last to rush out of the mine shaft!
He was covered in dust and Shi Lei’s blood, his face showing “grief” and “exhaustion”!
He stumbled to the armored vehicle, leaned against the cold body of the vehicle, and slowly slid to the ground, covering his face with his hands, his shoulders trembling slightly, as if silently weeping!
“Team Leader...” Su Qing walked forward, her voice choked with a hint of a sob!
“Han Feng and Shi Lei, they...”
“It’s my fault...” Ling Chen’s voice was hoarse and “painful”!
He looked up, his eyes filled with “bloodshot”!
“It was I... who made a command error... underestimated the danger of the mine shaft... It was I... who sent Gray Claw to take risks... It was I... who failed to... save Gray Rock...”
He suddenly punched the steel plate of the armored vehicle, emitting a dull thud!
“Damn it! Damn it!!!”
The team members looked at Ling Chen’s “grief-stricken” appearance!
Their fear and sadness were replaced by a complex emotion!
Was it the Team Leader’s fault?
It seemed so!
He was the one who told Han Feng to go through the ventilation duct!
He was the one who failed to stop Shi Lei’s impulsiveness in time!
But the Team Leader himself almost died in there!
He was still desperately covering their retreat at the end!
“Team Leader... It’s not entirely your fault...” Chen Mo said softly!
“It’s... it’s that monster... it was too strong...”
“That’s right, Team Leader! Who could have imagined such a terrifying thing hidden in the mine shaft!” Wang Yuan echoed!
Su Qing looked at Ling Chen’s blood-stained hands and his “painful” expression, her gaze complex!
She always felt something was off... but couldn’t quite pinpoint it...
Ling Chen “took a deep breath”!, forcibly “suppressing” the “grief” in his heart!
He stood up, his face showing a resolute determination mixed with sadness, self-reproach, and a hint of resolve!
“Han Feng! Shi Lei! They sacrificed themselves for the mission! To cover their teammates! They are the heroes of Ashes Squad!” Ling Chen’s voice carried an undeniable force!
“Their sacrifice will not be in vain! Ashes Squad will carry on their will! Continue forward! And become even stronger!”
His gaze swept over the remaining team members!
“Now! Return to the guild immediately! Report mission failure! Apply for the highest-grade survivor’s benefits!”
“Yes, Team Leader!” The team members responded in unison, their voices tinged with a tragic solemnity!
The armored vehicle started, carrying a heavy atmosphere, and drove away from this abandoned mine shaft that had devoured the lives of two team members!
Inside the vehicle, Ling Chen leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, as if resting, or calming his “grief-stricken” mood!
However, deep within the Soul Jade Physique’s cold will, there was a chilling tranquility, even a hint of satisfied calculation!
Han Feng! The unruly troublemaker! Cleared!
Shi Lei! The hidden danger loyal to Old K! Cleared!
The price was just an “accidental” mission failure and two “heroically sacrificed” team members!
Ashes Squad was down by two members, but the remaining Su Qing, Chen Mo, Wang Yuan... their loyalty, after witnessing the Team Leader’s “grief” and “responsibility,” had actually increased!
Especially Chen Mo and Wang Yuan! They became even more dependent on and reverent of this acting Team Leader!
As for Su Qing’s trivial suspicion? It was insignificant in the face of absolute strength and control!
The Soul Jade Physique’s cold will operated silently, evaluating the next steps of the plan!
It was time to put the core area of Ash Canyon on the agenda!
And little loli Bai Zhi should also be “visited” more often!